Integrated child seat

Abstract

An integrated child seat includes a movable cushion insert (16) that is supported on a seat frame (12) for movement between a lower position, wherein the cushion insert is aligned with a seating surface (15), and a raised position, wherein the cushion insert is disposed above the seating surface. When the cushion insert is in the raised position, it is available for use by a small child. The cushion insert is supported in the raised position by a foldable support assembly (18). A latch member (20) engages the support assembly and maintains the cushion insert in the raised position. A locking member (22) locks the cushion insert in a lower position. A release (24) releases the locking member when the cushion insert is to be moved from the lower position and releases the latch member when the cushion insert is to be moved from the raised position. A single push button actuator (26) provides simple operation of the release.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A seat (10), comprising: a seat frame (12);   a cushion (14) supported on said seat frame, said cushion defining a seating surface (15);   a moveable cushion insert (16) supported on said seat frame for movement between a lower passenger seating position, wherein said cushion insert is aligned with and defines a portion of said seating surface, and a raised child seating position, wherein said cushion insert is disposed above and generally parallel to said seating surface;   support means (18) for supporting said cushion insert in said raised position, said support means (18) including a scissor arm support structure;   a latch member (20) for engaging said support means and maintaining said cushion insert in said raised position, said latch member (20) engaging a portion of said scissor arm support structure when said cushion insert (16) is in said raised position;   a locking member (22) for locking said cushion insert in said lower position; and   characterized by release means (24) for releasing said locking member (22) when said cushion insert is to be moved from said lower position and for releasing said latch member (20) when said cushion insert is to be moved from said raised position.   
     
     
       2. The seat of claim 1, wherein said release means includes a moving member (32) movably supported on said seat frame (12) for movement toward a release position, said moving member (32) operatively actuating said latch member (20) and said locking member (22) upon movement toward said release position. 
     
     
       3. The seat of claim 2, wherein said moving member (32) is slidingly supported on said seat frame (12) for sliding movement in a longitudinal direction toward said release position. 
     
     
       4. The seat of claim 3, wherein said moving member (32) comprises a substantially rigid, generally flat bar. 
     
     
       5. The seat of claim 2, wherein said release means (24) further includes an actuator (26) for moving said moving member (32). 
     
     
       6. The seat of claim 5, wherein said actuator (26) is supported on said seat frame and disposed on a front surface of said seat below said seating surface. 
     
     
       7. The seat of claim 5, wherein said actuator (26) comprises a push button. 
     
     
       8. The seat of claim 7, wherein said release means (24) further includes a link member (30) coupled at a first end to said moving member (32) and coupled at a second end to said push button (26), said link member (30) being pivotally supported by said seat frame (12) for pivotal movement such that said moving member moves into said release position upon said push button being pushed. 
     
     
       9. The seat of claim 2, wherein said latch member (20) is movably supported on said seat frame (12) for movement between a latching position to engage a portion of said support means (18) and a nonlatching position, said moving member (32) moving said latch member between said latching and nonlatching positions as said moving member moves into said release position. 
     
     
       10. The seat of claim 9, wherein said latch member (20) includes a hook member (66) for engaging a portion of said support means (18) in said latching position. 
     
     
       11. The seat of claim 10, wherein said latch member (20) further includes a bar (48) coupled to said hook member (66) and said moving member (32), said hook member being pivotally supported for pivotal movement between said latching and nonlatching positions, said bar causing said hook member to pivot between said latching and nonlatching positions responsive to movement of said moving member. 
     
     
       12. The seat of claim 11, wherein said latch member includes (20) two hook members (66), each said hook member being coupled to opposite longitudinal ends of said bar (48) and wherein said moving member (32) is coupled to said bar proximate to a longitudinal midpoint (52) of said bar. 
     
     
       13. The seat of claim 2, wherein said support means (18) includes a support plate (40) and wherein said locking member (22) comprises a hook portion (44) that is moveable between a locking position to engage said support plate when said cushion insert is in said lower position and a nonlocking position. 
     
     
       14. The seat of claim 13, wherein said hook portion (44) is connected to one end of said moving member (32) for movement with said moving member. 
     
     
       15. The seat of claim 14, wherein said support plate (40) includes an opening (42) and wherein said hook portion (44) engages said support plate at said opening. 
     
     
       16. The seat of claim 1, wherein said support means further includes a support brace (70) comprising two link plates (72, 74) pivotally coupled together for pivotal movement between a folded position when said cushion insert (16) is in said lower position and an upright position when said cushion insert is in said raised position. 
     
     
       17. The seat of claim 16, wherein said release means (24) includes a rigid moving member (32), a link member (30) coupled to said moving member and a push button actuator (26) coupled to said link member, said link member being pivotally supported on said seat frame (12) for pivotal movement in response to said push button being pushed, said pivotal movement of said link member causing said moving member to move relative to said seat frame, said movement of said moving member causing said latch member to move from a latching position to a nonlatching position and said movement of said moving member causing said locking member to move from a locking position to a nonlocking position. 
     
     
       18. A seat insert (16) for use in supporting a child upon a seat, comprising: a base frame (12);   a cushion support plate supported on said base frame for movement between a lower position, wherein said cushion support plate is generally adjacent said frame, and a raised position, wherein said cushion support plate is spaced away from said base frame;   support means (18) for supporting said cushion support plate in said raised position, said support means (18) including a support brace (70) comprising two link plates (72, 74) pivotally coupled together for pivotal movement between a folded position when said cushion support plate is in said lower position and an upright position when said cushion support plate is in said raised position;   a latch member (20) for engaging said support means and maintaining said cushion support plate in said raised position;   a locking member (22) for locking said cushion plate in said lower position; and   characterized by release means (24) for releasing said locking member when said cushion support plate is to be moved from said lower position and for releasing said latch member when said cushion support plate is to be moved from said raised position.